Austin Smithwick was a standout catcher at Western Carolina (1995-99). After leaving Cullowhee, he immediately began his coaching career at Georgia Southern University under his former head coach Rodney Hennon. He currently serves as an assistant coach for Cade Hoggard at Oxford High School in Oxford, MS where he moved in 2021. Smithwick began coaching in South Carolina 2006 at Lander University after serving as the head baseball coach at Wake Forest-Rolesville (NC) High School for three years. After moving to Conway in 2009, Smithwick helped Anthony Carroll at Conway High School and began assisting DP with both showcases and serving as a Recruiting 101 counselor. 

Smithwick’s coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Division I Georgia Southern University in 2001, then served as the recruiting coordinator for junior college powerhouse Young Harris College for two years. After his three year stint at Wake Forest-Rolesville HS (NC), he coached at Lander University, serving the Division II Bearcats program as recruiting coordinator and was in charge of the offense. In all, Smithwick has coached numerous drafted players, eight major leaguers, and while at Young Harris he worked with former Atlanta Brave Nick Markakis.

A native of Coleridge, NC, Smithwick earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina in 1999 and his master’s in sports management from Georgia Southern in 2002. He graduated from Eastern Randolph High School in Ramseur, NC in 1995.

Smithwick is married to the former Jessica Broome of Raleigh, NC. They have two children, Tucker (19) and Campbell (17).